Vehicular driver monitoring system with camera view optimization

ABSTRACT

A vehicular occupant monitoring system includes a camera disposed at an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle. The camera includes an imaging array sensor and a lens. The lens is disposed at the imaging array sensor with a center axis of the lens vertically offset from a center region of the imaging array sensor. A center region of the lens is disposed at and images at a lower region of the imaging array sensor when the camera is disposed at the interior rearview mirror and an upper peripheral region of the lens images at the center region and a lower region of the imaging array sensor when the camera is disposed at the interior rearview mirror. The vehicular occupant monitoring system, responsive to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines presence of an occupant of the vehicle.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/200,003, filed Feb. 9, 2021, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a vehicle vision system for a vehicle and, more particularly, to a vehicle vision system that utilizes one or more cameras at a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Use of imaging sensors in vehicle imaging systems is common and known. Examples of such known systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,949,331; 5,670,935 and/or 5,550,677, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a driving assistance system or vision system or imaging system for a vehicle that includes a camera disposed at an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular driver assist system and viewing interior of the vehicle. The camera captures image data. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) that has electronic circuitry and associated software. The electronic circuitry of the ECU includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera to detect presence of objects (e.g., a vehicle driver and/or passenger) in the field of view of the camera. The camera includes an imaging array sensor and a lens. The lens is disposed at the imaging array sensor with a center axis of the lens vertically offset from a center region of the imaging array sensor such that a center region of the lens is disposed at and images at a lower region of the imaging array sensor when the camera is disposed at the interior rearview mirror, and an upper peripheral region of the lens images at the center region and a lower region of the imaging array sensor when the camera is disposed at the interior rearview mirror. The ECU, responsive to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines presence of an occupant of the vehicle.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle with a vision system that incorporates cameras in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an interior of a vehicle with an interior camera;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an outline of a lens over an outline of an imager of the camera of the vision system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side view of an interior of a vehicle with the vision system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A vehicle vision system and/or driver or driving assist system and/or object detection system and/or alert system operates to capture data of an interior of the vehicle and may process the data to detect objects within the vehicle. The system includes a processor or processing system that is operable to receive data from one or more sensors.

Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a vehicle 10 includes a sensing system or driver assist system 12 that includes at least one interior viewing imaging sensor or camera, such as a rearview mirror imaging sensor or camera 16 (FIG. 1). Optionally, an interior viewing camera may be disposed at the windshield of the vehicle. The vision system 12 includes a control or electronic control unit (ECU) 18 having electronic circuitry and associated software, with the electronic circuitry including a data processor or image processor that is operable to process image data captured by the sensor or camera or cameras, whereby the ECU may detect or determine presence of objects or the like (although shown in FIG. 1 as being part of or incorporated in or at an interior rearview mirror assembly 20 of the vehicle, the control and/or the display device may be disposed elsewhere at or in the vehicle). The data transfer or signal communication from the sensor or camera to the ECU may comprise any suitable data or communication link, such as a vehicle network bus or the like of the equipped vehicle.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in some driver monitoring systems or driver assist systems, an interior camera is attached to or is mounted within the interior rearview mirror to, for example, monitor the interior of the vehicle. Thus, when the driver adjusts the rearview mirror (i.e., rotates, tilts, or otherwise moves the interior rearview mirror to adjust the driver's rearward view), the field of view of the interior camera is also changed. The change in the field of view of the camera may lead to blind spots in the surveillance of the cabin or otherwise decrease the effectiveness of the interior camera. For example, some areas of the cabin (e.g., the driver or other occupant) may be captured by a lower resolution portion of the image sensor of the camera as the resolution may decrease in outer regions of the field of view of the camera (such as due to distortion in the image data imaged at the imager by a wide angle or curved or spherical lens). As shown in FIG. 2, the field of view of the camera is suboptimal, as a large portion of the field of view of the camera is of the ceiling or roofliner or headliner of the vehicle.

Implementations herein include a vehicular driver monitoring system that may align a lens of the camera vertically and/or horizontally offset from a center of the image sensor (FIGS. 3 and 4). For example, and such as shown in FIG. 3, the lens may be disposed at the imaging sensor with a center axis of the lens vertically offset from a center region of the imaging array sensor and a center region of the lens is disposed at and images at a lower region of the imaging array sensor when the camera is disposed at the interior rearview mirror. An upper peripheral region of the lens may image at the center region and a lower region of the imaging array sensor when the camera is disposed at the interior rearview mirror (FIG. 4). By doing this, regions of low interest (e.g., the roofliner or ceiling of the vehicle) may be imaged by a lower resolution or more distorted portion of the lens/image sensor (e.g., edges of the lens or edges of the image sensor) while regions of high interest (e.g., portions where occupants heads are likely to be) are imaged with a higher resolution or with less distortion as these regions such as areas that are more centrally located with respect to the lens. The lens and imager construction may utilize aspects of the cameras and systems described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,525,883 and/or U.S. Publication No. US-2016-0137126, which are both hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the system or camera may adjust the location of the lens respective to the image sensor based on adjustments to the interior rearview mirror (i.e., by the driver). That is, when the driver of the vehicle adjusts the interior rearview mirror, the system may, in response, adjust the position of the lens relative to the image sensor to maintain an optimal field of view within the cabin of the vehicle using, for example, actuators, motors, or the like. For example, the field of view of the camera is adjusted such that the field of view includes less of low priority areas of the cabin (e.g., the roof) and the field of view includes more of high priority areas (e.g., the occupants).

Optionally, the vehicular driver monitoring system may include a gimbal or gear system or other pivoted support or mounting system for the camera. Such a mounting system decouples the field of view of the camera with the orientation of the mirror. For example, when the driver adjusts the mirror, the mounting system (e.g., the gimbal, ball and socket joint, etc.) adjusts the camera so that the field of view of the camera remains the same. The mounting system may allow adjustment of the camera about a single axis or about two or three axes. Thus, even with a very tall or very short driver who makes extreme adjustments to the mirror, the camera can maintain an optimal or ideal field of view. For example, when the driver moves the field of view off the mirror higher, the field of view of the camera may remain relatively lower of the cabin of the vehicle.

Optionally, the camera may alternatively or additionally (i.e., in addition to functioning as an interior driver or occupant monitoring camera) function as a light detector for an auto dimmable mirror. For example, the camera may measure ambient light and/or glare light (e.g., from headlights of vehicles behind the equipped vehicle) and the rear-view mirror and/or side mirrors may dim based on the measurements. Thus, other redundant light detectors or sensors may be removed to reduce costs. Such a camera and ambient light sensing system may utilize aspects of the cameras and systems described in U.S. Publication Nos. US-2021-0316663; US-2021-0245662; US-2019-0146297 and/or US-2019-0047475, and/or International PCT Application No. PCT/US22/70062, filed Jan. 6, 2022 (Attorney Docket DON09 FP4371WO), which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Optionally, the ECU, based on image data captured by the interior camera, calculate areas of vehicle mirrors (e.g., rearview mirror, side mirrors, etc.) that should be dimmed when the driver or other occupants are at risk of glare from a light source from behind the vehicle. That is, based on the captured image data, only portions of the mirror may be dimmed (i.e., the portions that reflect the detected glare light). The ECU may perform the calculations via, for example, triangulation of the mirror(s) and the camera positions. Thus, using the captured image data, the mirror may function as a high-dynamic-range (HDR) mirror. The ECU may use the resolution of the camera to create coordinates (e.g., Cartesian coordinates) of the dimmable area of the mirror. For example, the ECU may define the mirror surface as an array or foil or pixelated structure where each element or portion or region or sub-array of pixels may be selectively or individually dimmed.

The system thus may determine a location of the driver's head and/or eyes, and may determine when glare light (emanating from a headlight of a vehicle rearward of the equipped vehicle) may reflect off the interior mirror reflective element (or exterior mirror reflective element at either side of the vehicle) toward the driver's eyes. Based on the determined location of the driver's head/eyes and the location of the rearward light source relative to the vehicle and mirrors, the system determines which area of each mirror reflective element to dim to reduce or limit or avoid glare light to the driver of the vehicle. The system may utilize aspects of the adaptive masks and systems described in U.S. Publication Nos. US-2021-0114439 and/or US-2020-0296273, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The camera or sensor may comprise any suitable camera or sensor. Optionally, the camera may comprise a “smart camera” that includes the imaging sensor array and associated circuitry and image processing circuitry and electrical connectors and the like as part of a camera module, such as by utilizing aspects of the vision systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,099,614 and/or 10,071,687, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The system includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera or cameras, such as for detecting objects or other vehicles or pedestrians or the like in the field of view of one or more of the cameras. For example, the image processor may comprise an image processing chip selected from the EYEQ family of image processing chips available from Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd. of Jerusalem, Israel, and may include object detection software (such as the types described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,855,755; 7,720,580 and/or 7,038,577, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties), and may analyze image data to detect vehicles and/or other objects. Responsive to such image processing, and when an object or other vehicle is detected, the system may generate an alert to the driver of the vehicle and/or may generate an overlay at the displayed image to highlight or enhance display of the detected object or vehicle, in order to enhance the driver's awareness of the detected object or vehicle or hazardous condition during a driving maneuver of the equipped vehicle.

The vehicle may include any type of sensor or sensors, such as imaging sensors or radar sensors or lidar sensors or ultrasonic sensors or the like. The imaging sensor or camera may capture image data for image processing and may comprise any suitable camera or sensing device, such as, for example, a two dimensional array of a plurality of photosensor elements arranged in at least 640 columns and 480 rows (at least a 640×480 imaging array, such as a megapixel imaging array or the like), with a respective lens focusing images onto respective portions of the array. The photosensor array may comprise a plurality of photosensor elements arranged in a photosensor array having rows and columns. Preferably, the imaging array has at least 300,000 photosensor elements or pixels, more preferably at least 500,000 photosensor elements or pixels and more preferably at least 1 million photosensor elements or pixels. The imaging array may capture color image data, such as via spectral filtering at the array, such as via an RGB (red, green and blue) filter or via a red/red complement filter or such as via an RCC (red, clear, clear) filter or the like. The logic and control circuit of the imaging sensor may function in any known manner, and the image processing and algorithmic processing may comprise any suitable means for processing the images and/or image data.

For example, the vision system and/or processing and/or camera and/or circuitry may utilize aspects described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,233,641; 9,146,898; 9,174,574; 9,090,234; 9,077,098; 8,818,042; 8,886,401; 9,077,962; 9,068,390; 9,140,789; 9,092,986; 9,205,776; 8,917,169; 8,694,224; 7,005,974; 5,760,962; 5,877,897; 5,796,094; 5,949,331; 6,222,447; 6,302,545; 6,396,397; 6,498,620; 6,523,964; 6,611,202; 6,201,642; 6,690,268; 6,717,610; 6,757,109; 6,802,617; 6,806,452; 6,822,563; 6,891,563; 6,946,978; 7,859,565; 5,550,677; 5,670,935; 6,636,258; 7,145,519; 7,161,616; 7,230,640; 7,248,283; 7,295,229; 7,301,466; 7,592,928; 7,881,496; 7,720,580; 7,038,577; 6,882,287; 5,929,786 and/or 5,786,772, and/or U.S. Publication Nos. US-2014-0340510; US-2014-0313339; US-2014-0347486; US-2014-0320658; US-2014-0336876; US-2014-0307095; US-2014-0327774; US-2014-0327772; US-2014-0320636; US-2014-0293057; US-2014-0309884; US-2014-0226012; US-2014-0293042; US-2014-0218535; US-2014-0218535; US-2014-0247354; US-2014-0247355; US-2014-0247352; US-2014-0232869; US-2014-0211009; US-2014-0160276; US-2014-0168437; US-2014-0168415; US-2014-0160291; US-2014-0152825; US-2014-0139676; US-2014-0138140; US-2014-0104426; US-2014-0098229; US-2014-0085472; US-2014-0067206; US-2014-0049646; US-2014-0052340; US-2014-0025240;

US-2014-0028852; US-2014-005907; US-2013-0314503; US-2013-0298866; US-2013-0222593; US-2013-0300869; US-2013-0278769; US-2013-0258077; US-2013-0258077; US-2013-0242099; US-2013-0215271; US-2013-0141578 and/or US-2013-0002873, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. The system may communicate with other communication systems via any suitable means, such as by utilizing aspects of the systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,071,687; 9,900,490; 9,126,525 and/or 9,036,026, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. 

1. A vehicular occupant monitoring system, the vehicular occupant monitoring system comprising: a camera disposed at an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular occupant monitoring system and viewing interior of the vehicle, the camera capturing image data; an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising electronic circuitry and associated software; wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera; wherein the camera comprises a CMOS imaging array sensor and a lens, and wherein the CMOS imaging array comprises at least one million photosensors arranged in rows and columns; wherein the lens is disposed at the CMOS imaging array sensor with a centerline of the lens that does not pass through a center of the CMOS imaging array sensor, and wherein, with the camera disposed at the interior rearview mirror, a center region of the lens is disposed at and images at a lower region of the CMOS imaging array sensor and an upper region of the lens images at the center region of the CMOS imaging array sensor; and wherein the vehicular occupant monitoring system, responsive to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines presence of an occupant of the vehicle.
 2. The vehicular occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the vehicular occupant monitoring system , responsive to movement of the interior rearview mirror of the vehicle, adjusts a position of the lens relative to the CMOS imaging array sensor based on the movement of the interior rearview mirror.
 3. The vehicular occupant monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the interior rearview mirror is movable by the driver of the vehicle to adjust the driver's rearward view.
 4. The vehicular occupant monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the adjustment of the lens relative to the CMOS imaging array sensor compensates for a change in the field of view of the camera based on the movement of the interior rearview mirror of the vehicle.
 5. The vehicular occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the vertical offset of the lens relative to the CMOS imaging array sensor increases a resolution of an area of interest captured by the CMOS imaging array sensor.
 6. The vehicular occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the vertical offset of the lens relative to the CMOS imaging array sensor decreases distortion of an area of interest captured by the CMOS imaging array sensor.
 7. The vehicular occupant monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the vehicular occupant monitoring system, responsive to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines an intensity of glare light, and wherein the vehicular occupant monitoring system, responsive to determining that intensity of the glare light is greater than a threshold level, at least partially dims the interior rearview mirror.
 8. The vehicular occupant monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the vehicular occupant monitoring system determines a portion of the interior rearview mirror that is reflecting glare light toward the eyes of the driver of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicular occupant monitoring system, responsive to determining the portion of the interior rearview mirror that is reflecting the glare light, dims the portion of the interior rearview mirror that is reflecting the glare light while not dimming other portions of the interior rearview mirror that are not reflecting the glare light.
 9. The vehicular occupant monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the vehicular occupant monitoring system determines the portion of the interior rearview mirror that is reflecting glare light based on triangulation and a position of the interior rearview mirror and the camera.
 10. The vehicular occupant monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the vehicular occupant monitoring system determines the portion of the interior rearview mirror based on an array of locations that represent a surface of the interior rearview mirror.
 11. A vehicular driving assist system, the vehicular driving assist system comprising: a camera disposed at an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular driving assist system and having a field of view of the interior of the vehicle, the camera capturing image data; wherein the camera comprises a CMOS imaging array, and wherein the CMOS imaging array comprises at least one million photosensors arranged in rows and columns; an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising electronic circuitry and associated software; wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera; wherein the camera comprises a mounting system that adjustably mounts the camera to the interior rearview mirror; and wherein, responsive to an occupant of the vehicle adjusting an orientation of the interior rearview mirror, the vehicular driving assist system, responsive to processing at the ECU of image data captured by the camera, adjusts the mounting system so that the camera maintains the same field of view as the camera had before the occupant adjusted the orientation of the interior rearview mirror.
 12. The vehicular driving assist system of claim 11, wherein the mounting system comprises a gimbal.
 13. The vehicular driving assist system of claim 12, wherein the mounting system comprises a ball-and-socket joint.
 14. The vehicular driving assist system of claim 11, wherein the mounting system adjusts the orientation of the camera about a single axis.
 15. The vehicular driving assist system of claim 11, wherein the mounting system adjusts the orientation of the camera about a plurality of axes.
 16. The vehicular driving assist system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of axes comprises three axes.
 17. A vehicular driving assist system, the vehicular driving assist system comprising: a camera disposed at an interior rearview mirror of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular driving assist system and having a field of view of the interior of the vehicle, the camera capturing image data; wherein the camera comprises a CMOS imaging array, and wherein the CMOS imaging array comprises at least one million photosensors arranged in rows and columns; an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising electronic circuitry and associated software; wherein the electronic circuitry of the ECU comprises an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera to detect presence of objects in the field of view of the camera; wherein the vehicular driving assist system, responsive to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines presence of a driver of the vehicle; wherein the vehicular driving assist system, responsive to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines an intensity of glare light; wherein the vehicular driving assist system, responsive to determining that intensity of the glare light is greater than a threshold level, at least partially dims the interior rearview mirror; and wherein the vehicular driving assist system determines a portion of the interior rearview mirror that is reflecting glare light toward the eyes of the driver of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicular driving assist system, responsive to determining the portion of the interior rearview mirror that is reflecting the glare light, dims the portion of the interior rearview mirror that is reflecting the glare light while not dimming other portions of the interior rearview mirror that are not reflecting the glare light.
 18. The vehicular driving assist system of claim 17, wherein the vehicular driving assist system determines the portion of the interior rearview mirror that is reflecting glare light based on triangulation and a position of the interior rearview mirror and the camera.
 19. The vehicular driving assist system of claim 17, wherein the vehicular driving assist system determines the portion of the interior rearview mirror based on an array of locations that represent a surface of the interior rearview mirror.
 20. The vehicular driving assist system of claim 17, wherein the vehicular driving assist system determines an intensity of ambient light, and wherein the vehicular driving assist system, responsive to determining that intensity of the glare light is greater than a threshold level and responsive to determining the intensity of ambient light, at least partially dims the interior rearview mirror. 